“To My Constituents: Thank You for Placing Your Faith in Me to Strengthen Our Community.”
WASHINGTON — Today, Congressman Vern Buchanan penned an op-ed in the Sarasota Herald-Tribune reflecting on a year of service, leadership and results delivered for the people of Florida’s 16th District. Buchanan highlights his work in Washington and Florida, including returning more than $12 million to constituents, delivering historic tax relief for working families and seniors, passing bipartisan health care reforms, and demonstrating support for law enforcement and public safety.
“As 2025 comes to a close, I’m proud to share the work I’ve done for the people of Florida’s 16th District,” writes Buchanan in the op-ed. “This year was defined by service to our veterans and first responders, our seniors, our small businesses and the families who call our community home.”
Read the full op-ed here or below:
A Year of Service, Strength and Results for Florida Families
Vern Buchanan
As 2025 comes to a close, I’m proud to share the work I’ve done for the people of Florida’s 16th District. This year was defined by service to our veterans and first responders, our seniors, our small businesses and the families who call our community home. ls he led,
Over the past year, my team and I returned more than $12 million to my constituents from federal agencies, including the Social Security Administration, the IRS, the VA and FEMA. Behind every dollar recovered is a real person: a senior who received earned benefits, a veteran who finally got the care they deserve or a small business owner able to expand and keep their doors open. Ensuring the federal government works for the people it serves is one of the top priorities of my public service.
In Washington, I focused on advancing policies that lower costs and strengthen our economy, including codifying key elements of President Trump’s agenda into law. Working closely with President Trump, I partnered with my Republican colleagues to deliver the Working Families Tax Cuts, the largest tax relief package for American families in history. As Vice Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, I led efforts to make the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Actpermanent and eliminate taxes on tips and overtime, so workers keep more of what they earn. We put families first by strengthening the Child Tax Credit and creating Trump Accounts that give children a stronger financial foundation. Americans will see real relief from the lasting impact of Bidenflation when they file their tax returns next year.
Letting Americans keep more of what they earn has been especially important for Florida’s seniors. Representing one of the largest senior populations in the country, I often hear from people living on fixed incomes who worry about expenses. Now, thanks to the Working Families Tax Cuts, nearly 88 percent of our seniors will pay no tax on their Social Security benefits, providing real relief and peace of mind.
Helping job creators have more capital to grow and hire is just as important. As a small business owner for more than 30 years, I know what it takes to meet payroll and keep the lights on. That’s why I fought to strengthen the small business deduction and restore bonus depreciation, giving millions of entrepreneurs more certainty to hire, expand and invest in their workers. When small businesses succeed, our communities grow stronger.
Delivering results for seniors and families also includes advancing commonsense health care reforms. As Chair of the Health Subcommittee on the Ways and Means Committee, I saw two of my bipartisan health bills unanimously pass the House: the Hospital Inpatient Services Modernization Act and the Chronic Disease Flexible Coverage Act. Both reduce costs, expand access and improve care for Florida seniors. I also worked to advance President Trump’s Make America Healthy Again agenda by prioritizing obesity prevention, Medicare modernization, telehealth and a commonsense Food is Medicine approach focused on prevention and innovation.
That same commitment to turning strong leadership into lasting policy also guided my work to restore the rule of law. I worked with House Republicans to curb illegal immigration, secure the border and support the men and women on the front lines. I stood with ICE, Customs and Border Protection, and local law enforcement, and I fought to build support for my Thin Blue Line Act to defend our law enforcement community from those who would cause them harm.
Supporting those who put their lives on the line is at the heart of why I serve. This year, I was proud to honor over 320 firefighters, EMTs, law enforcement officers, educators and veterans through Congressional awards and commendations. These men and women protect our communities, educate our children and strengthen Florida’s 16th District. Their commitment to our community inspires the work I do in Congress on behalf of Florida families.
None of this progress happens without the trust of the people I represent. To my constituents: Thank you for placing your faith in me to strengthen our community. As we look ahead to 2026, I am committed to fighting for Florida values and delivering results for the families, seniors and small businesses who call our district home.
Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-Fla.) is the Vice Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee and the Chair of the Health Subcommittee. Prior to serving in Congress, Buchanan was in business for over 30 years and chaired both the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce and Florida Chamber of Commerce.
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